Absolute MUSTS For Your Website Before 2020 Hits - I'm Serious!
Last year, as we approached 2019, I sent our clients and subscribers a short checklist of action items to improve their website.
Some of you ignored me. 😉
Okay, so maybe you just procrastinated.
Here's my list for 2020 ... and I'm dead serious this time. 😊 I put these in priority order to make it easy to address them in order of importance.
1. Make sure your website is responsive.
It's been a "thing" for a few years now. If you don't have a responsive website (one that scales to mobile devices), your credibility is instantly reduced in the eyes of your website visitors. Google is now "mobile first." If Google is mobile first, your website must be too. If it's not, you won't be able to compete much longer (even if you are now) for good rankings.
Action item:
Shoot me an email or fill out the short form on our website -- we'll get a quote over to you for the conversion or redesign, get it in our queue, and get you up to speed before the new year. If you're working with another company, reach out to them. Please make this a priority. It's important for your business.
2. Ensure you have an SSL installed on your website.
This was new last year. Google Chrome started showing "Not Secure" warnings on ALL websites (not just eCommerce websites) that don't have a SSL Certificate purchased and installed. Other browsers quickly followed suit. Additionally, Google announced it will now be a factor in search rankings. If you delayed on this last year, it's time to get the SSL Certificate for your website.
Action item:
If you aren't sure if you have one installed or not, just let me know and I'll check for you. As a client of MSW, it's $200 for the initial purchase and install of the SSL cert. It does have to be renewed each year and we simply pass that through. If you are working with another web hosting company, reach out to them for this. It's important to work directly with your web hosting provider, since SSL types vary and server requirements are very specific.
3. Get strategic with your business social media efforts.
Our newsletter last week talked about how Google is no longer in the business of driving traffic to business websites. Instead, they have made changes to keep people ON GOOGLE. This makes your social media efforts even more important! When it comes to rankings, Google doesn't really like you until it knows that people actually like you. A big signal in this area for Google is people visiting your website. You can use your social media and blogging efforts to drive the necessary traffic.
Additionally, the data around how much time people spend on social media is staggering. They are using social to peruse news, stay in touch with friends and family, to kill time, to shop, and to ask for recommendations. If you are not there, you are definitely missing business opportunity.
Action item:
If you aren't 100% sure what you're doing on social media, if you aren't doing it consistently, or if you aren't being strategic, consider outsourcing some (or all) of your social media marketing to an agency like ours. Top of mind it critical, as is your branding, messaging, consistency, and social ad targeting. This is what an agency brings to the table for your business. The return on investment is huge on so many fronts. If you're not doing it now, you're well behind in the game. You can learn more about several social media management options available here.
Some of you ignored me. 😉
Okay, so maybe you just procrastinated.
Here's my list for 2020 ... and I'm dead serious this time. 😊 I put these in priority order to make it easy to address them in order of importance.
1. Make sure your website is responsive.
It's been a "thing" for a few years now. If you don't have a responsive website (one that scales to mobile devices), your credibility is instantly reduced in the eyes of your website visitors. Google is now "mobile first." If Google is mobile first, your website must be too. If it's not, you won't be able to compete much longer (even if you are now) for good rankings.
Action item:
Shoot me an email or fill out the short form on our website -- we'll get a quote over to you for the conversion or redesign, get it in our queue, and get you up to speed before the new year. If you're working with another company, reach out to them. Please make this a priority. It's important for your business.
2. Ensure you have an SSL installed on your website.
This was new last year. Google Chrome started showing "Not Secure" warnings on ALL websites (not just eCommerce websites) that don't have a SSL Certificate purchased and installed. Other browsers quickly followed suit. Additionally, Google announced it will now be a factor in search rankings. If you delayed on this last year, it's time to get the SSL Certificate for your website.
Action item:
If you aren't sure if you have one installed or not, just let me know and I'll check for you. As a client of MSW, it's $200 for the initial purchase and install of the SSL cert. It does have to be renewed each year and we simply pass that through. If you are working with another web hosting company, reach out to them for this. It's important to work directly with your web hosting provider, since SSL types vary and server requirements are very specific.
3. Get strategic with your business social media efforts.
Our newsletter last week talked about how Google is no longer in the business of driving traffic to business websites. Instead, they have made changes to keep people ON GOOGLE. This makes your social media efforts even more important! When it comes to rankings, Google doesn't really like you until it knows that people actually like you. A big signal in this area for Google is people visiting your website. You can use your social media and blogging efforts to drive the necessary traffic.
Additionally, the data around how much time people spend on social media is staggering. They are using social to peruse news, stay in touch with friends and family, to kill time, to shop, and to ask for recommendations. If you are not there, you are definitely missing business opportunity.
Action item:
If you aren't 100% sure what you're doing on social media, if you aren't doing it consistently, or if you aren't being strategic, consider outsourcing some (or all) of your social media marketing to an agency like ours. Top of mind it critical, as is your branding, messaging, consistency, and social ad targeting. This is what an agency brings to the table for your business. The return on investment is huge on so many fronts. If you're not doing it now, you're well behind in the game. You can learn more about several social media management options available here.
If you have questions about anything in this article, please don't hesitate to call me. The MSW office is open Mon-Fri from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. The phone # is 573-552-8403. Websites, SEO, and internet marketing strategies change at lightning speed. It's our job to keep up and keep you informed!
Please share this e-newsletter with someone you think it might help.
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